Fishing Report for Week Ending May 18, 2014

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing remains FAIR to GOOD on the weekend. There are hatchery chinooks up into the 20+ lbs size range being caught. There is also a mixture of small and large wild springs being caught. Halibut fishing was FAIR, since the currents weren’t the best.

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Effective until 23:59 hours Friday, June 13, 2014 in Subareas 19-1 to 19-4 and Subarea 20-5(those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Point to Sheringham Point), the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day which may be wild or hatchery marked between 45 cm and 67 cm or hatchery marked greater than 67 cm in length. The minimum size limit in these areas is 45 cm in length.

SOOKE – Salmon fishing was FAIR with the best fishing from Otter Point westward pastSherringham Point. There were fin clipped salmon running into the 20’s in the recent catches. More fish are starting to be caught at mid water depths now as mature fish are starting to migrate through. The salmon are being caught as shallow as 50 feet. Anchovies are working well in Bloody Nose and UV teaser heads. Glow and UV hootchies and squirts, Coho Killers and G-Force spoons are working well also. The most popular flashers recently have been the Purple Onion, Green Jellyfish and others with both Glow and UV surfaces. Halibut anglers are having best success out west towards Jordan River and Sombrio Point.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOODfor springs. The best salmon fishing has been from the Bedfords to Beechey Head. Hatchery springs in the 6 – 20+ lb size were being caught and the average size of the fish is improving. Anglers have been catching the salmon between depths of 50 to 120 feet. More anglers are having good success fishing anchovies now. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow and the Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Purple Onion and the Green Jellyfish have been very good lately. Hootchies have been effective too, and Black/White, Cloverleaf and Purple haze have been good color patterns. Artificial spoons such as Coho killers and G-Force spoons have been working well also.

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD, both in the Pedder Bay and in Whirl Bay. The springs are mostly between 6 to 10 lbs in size, but there have been some bigger ones being caught as well. A 26 lb hatchery spring was caught in Pedder Bay this past weekend. Much of the action was coming on spoons. Coho Killers and G-force spoons with both glow and green have been working the best. Anchovies were also productive with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads being good choices in teaser heads. Squirts are working too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Onion, Clear jelly UV and Purple Haze.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR on the weekend. Anglers were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Fishing has been FAIR for winter springs at Constance Bank when the wind wasn’t blowing. Most anglers were getting springs while fishing close to the bottom at slack tides. The fish are still getting bigger and several weighing into the low twenties were caught. Closer in, the salmon fishing was slower. Along the waterfront, it’s time to shallow up to 60-80 feet and troll anchovies. Most anglers fishing Constance are using artificial lures, usually with Coho Killer (yellowtail or green/glow). G-Force spoons in Outfitters or No Bananas colors have been killers too. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Blow. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in all colours have been very effective. Good flashers have been the Purple Onion, Clear jelly UV or Green Jellyfish. Seals continue to be a problem for anglers after salmon.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend due to the big tides and strong currents. Anglers were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait with octopus being the most productive bait this past weekend. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR for those trolling out on the Flats and in the Gap. There are some hatchery springs up to 20 lbs around, but most fish are under 67 cm. The most popular method for catching springs here is trolling near the bottom in 65 to 130 feet of water with squirts, spoons, or tiny strip. That being said, anglers jigging delta Deep Stingers or Floorwalkers have been catching their fair share of springs. It’s hard to say which method is the better technique right now. The fish that were being caught trolling were caught on Coho Killer spoons and 3” to 4” G-Force & Gypsy spoons. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish. Good flashers have been the Purple Onion, Clear jelly UV or Green Jellyfish. We now have Tiny Strip in stock for those of you fishing Oak Bay!

Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was SLOW off Sidney this past week. The Sidney Anglers’ Association held their annual Spring Derby on Sunday. Only 3 fish were weighed in at the derby. First place went to Anna Kosick for an 8 lb 12 oz spring. Second place went to Brian smith for a 7 lb 8 oz spring. Third place went to Murray Kosick for a 7 lb 7 oz spring. We did hear that during the week there were some Saanichton Spit, Hambley Island and Fairfax report. I also heard via a second hand report that a pair of 25 lb springs was caught in Pat Bay. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors. We had 10 halibut entered in the derby from this area. We had 22 halibut entered in the derby from this area.

Notable Catches – The Sidney Anglers’ Association held their annual Spring Derby and First place went to Anna Kosick for an 8 lb 12 oz spring. Second place went to Brian Smith for a 7 lb 8 oz spring. Third place went to Murray Kosick for a 7 lb 7 oz spring.

OVERVIEW – Fishing is FAIR to GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Remember that ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1.

Mike Leask with a big Brown Trout on the Cowichan river

COWICHAN RIVER – Water levels on the river are at 0.7 meters throughout its length. This is a great height for angers wading for trout. The trout fishing in the upper river is good to excellent. There are rainbows as well as resident brown and cutthroat trout that are active in the top end right now. Bead head nymphs are the top producer there and our favorites are the Prince Nymphs, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Pheasant tails. There are lots of insect hatches during the day now and the dry fly fishing can be excellent if you match the hatch.TROUT – Troutfishing was FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area this past week.

A nice Cowichan river rainbow

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC continues their spring release of catchable rainbow trout from the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery. On May 2nd, Thetis Lake received 1,000 trout and Langford Lake received 500 trout. On April 30th, Durrance Lake received 1,000 trout and Spectacle Lake received 500 trout. On April 29th, Langford Lake received 2,000 trout, and Glen, Matheson and Kemp Lakes each received 500 trout. On April 16th, Prospect Lake received 1,275 trout, Shawnigan Lake received 722 trout and Langford Lake received 600 trout. On April 9th, Langford Lake received 2,000 trout and Dougan Lake received 365 trout. On April 7th, Elk Lake received 2,000 trout. On April 3rd, 2,000 rainbow trout were released at Prospect Lake. The total Island trout release this spring is 57,305 Fraser Valley strain rainbow trout.

Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Yellow and Bubblegum have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with a variety of lures. The Rhys Davis Baitrix Trout lures and UV Mini Strip Teasers work well for larger fish too. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers with the police car one of the best and the black with silver glitter spots taking second place. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well; the jointed Rapalas have also been great for larger fish. Larger Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a size 6 hook tipped with a small 1-2″ piece of worm always produce fish. The biggest trout usually come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

BASS - Bass fishing is PICKING UP as water temperatures increase. At this time of year the bass are shallow and close in to shore for spawning. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Crank baits have been effective too when fished with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks, most productive in 4” Yum bait colors Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Surface lures have been producing well in the evenings and mornings. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake and Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing. Please remember that bass are closed for retention on all southern island lakes through June 15th.

CARP – Carp fishing is GOOD at Elk Lake. William Oliver weighed in 4 carp with a total weight of 22.9 lbs this past week.

Notable Catches - William Oliver weighed in 4 carp from Elk Lake with a total weight of 22.9 lbs this past week.

When fly fishing for trout in rivers, it is very important to check your flies frequently. The small hooks are easily damaged or broken by rocks or hard objects. This can occur on a back cast or as the fly bounces along the river bottom. Nothing is more frustrating than to miss a big fish and then find that the end off the hook was broken off on a previous cast.

Island Outfittersstarts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizesSalmon, Trout, Carp and Halibut Leader Boards. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize! To enter, just bring in your catch to be weighed at our store.

June 14th and 15th – Port Renfrew Fathers Day Derby

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